Movement control mechanism for straight knitting machines



23, 1932. E, RlcHTER 1,873,034

MOVEMENT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l IITIVENTOX' fmiiljiahier .A h B ATTORNEYS.

Aug, 23, 1932. E. RICHTER 1,873,034

MOVEMENT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 19:50 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 -M H frf E. RICHTER Aug. 23, 1932. 1,873,034

MOVEMENT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

, Emil flichi g BY 3 IATITORNEY E. RICHTER Aug. 23, 1932.

MOVEMENT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 29 1950 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 By W A'TTORNEYS.

Patented Augo 23, 1932 I UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE.

EMIL RICHTER, F WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 TEXTILE MACHINE WORKS, OF WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MOVEMENT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHINES' Application filed January as, 1930. Serial No. 424,188.

This invention relates generally to a movement-control mechanism of the type in which one or more movement-limiting pat tern chains function to variably control the throw of a reciprocatively operated element,

and which is more particularly adapted to straight knitting machines for precisely and variably controlling the extent of movement of the thread carrier rods.

In conjunction with this mechanism, which makes it possible to produce a practically unlimited variety of ornamental reenforcing, plating or striped effects in a flat-knitted web, there is also provided cooperating means accomplishing split-seam interlooping of the threads at the juncture lines of the patterns produced.

The invention comprises the novel elements,'features of construction and arrange ment of parts in operative relat1onsh1p as herein exemplified in connection with a straight knitting machine, and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanymg drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a well known full fashioned stocking knitting machine with parts thereof broken away, and having my pattern or movement-control mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of certain parts shown in Fig. 1, and is taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 2-2 on Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially. as indicated by the arrows 3-3 on Fig. 1, the well known couliermechanism, shown in the latter figure, being omitted.

Fig. 4'is a fragmentary perspective 'view of certain ratchet wheels forming part of the ,pattern chain-drive mechanism. v v

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially on the line 5-5 on Fig. 1.

n Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 5, but shows certain parts in another position. i

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 7-7 on Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of certain parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration, showmg the various positions of a single thread carrier rod and its movement-control members during one cycle of operation.

For illustrative purposes, the lnvention is shown applied to a well known full fashioned stocking knitting machine, only such parts of the latter directly connected with and essential to a proper showing of the location and operation of the invention being disclosed.

In a machine of this type, certain of the reciprocatively operated thread carrier rods 10, are provided with adjustable abutment screws, such asindicated at 11 and 12, which strike against a cooperating movement-limiting stop, to effect precise feeding of the thread in accordance with the results desired in the production of the knitted web.

The stop is usually shiftable and the screws are staggered as shown, so that after the first or advanced screw 11 strikes against the stop, the latter is automatically shifted or raised sufiiciently to clear the screw 11, thereby permitting the thread carrier rod to again advance until the second screw 12 strikes against the same stop. This delayed additional movement of the rod, effects the so called open seam interlooping of the threads in the knitted Web, as well known in the art.

My invention is more particularly directed to attain such known and desirable movement-controlling action of the thread carrier rods with a simple and adjustable pattern chain'mechanism, enabling the proper feedcontrol of the thread to accomplish the production of an unlimited variety of ornamental effects in a flat-knitted web, in conjunction with either the well known open or closed seam interlooping of the threads.

To this end, I'provide two opposed but similar cooperating thread carrier'rod conand that the pawl 19 trol mechanisms generally indicated at A and vp B; The following description refers to control mechanism B only, but applies equally to similar control mechanism A, like parts in the similar mechanisms having the same reference numerals, with those in A having the exponent a for ready identification.

Mechanism B is provided with an endless movement-limiting pattern chain 13, trained about and driven by a sprocket 14 (see 14a) fixed on a shaft 15; which latter is rotated by a pawling device comprising a ratchet wheel 16 fixed to the shaft, two idle ratchetwheels 17 and 18 which are pinned together and mounted for free-rotation 0n the shaft, and two similar pawls 19 and 20 carried by an arm 24 fulcrumed on the shaft 15. By referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be noted that the wheel 17 has only half as many teeth as the wheels 18 and 16 which are alike, coacts with wheel 18 only whereas pawl 20 coacts with wheels 17 and 16. Uniform reciprocation of the two pawls 19 and 20 will therefore efl'ect continuous step-by-step turning of the idle wheel 18 and consequently the wheel 17 which is secured thereto, owing to continuous coaction of the pawl 19 and wheel 18, whereas the pawl 20 cooperates and turns the wheel 17 only during each second reciprocation of the pawls; i. e. when the teeth on wheels 17 and 16 register and the pawl 20 can fall into active engagement with wheel 17 Thus the shaft 15 is turned one step during two reciprocations of the pawls. Accidental movement or shifting of the idle wheels 17 and 18, as well as the shaft 15 to which the sprocket 14 and the ratchet wheel 16 are fixed, is prevented by a brake device such as spring pressed friction pins mounted in bearing block 39 which bears against wheel 18 and sprocket 14 respectively, pins 180a and 140a for mechanism A being clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Movement is imparted to the pawls 19 and 20 to intermittently advance the chain 13, by a cam 21 fixed on the machine cam shaft 22, which oscillates a lever 23 pivoted on a shaft 25, through an anti-friction roller 26 carried thereby. The lever 23 transmits its motion to the pawl arm 24 through an adjustable link 27 connected to turnable stud 23?) on lever 23 and to a lever 28, fulcrumed on a shaft29 and in turn connected with the pawl arm 24 by an adjustable link 30.

A spring 31 secured to the end of lever 23 and a machine frame member 32, keeps the roller 26 and cam 21 in contact with each other during operation.

Various types of well known pattern chains, provided with detachably secured axial abutment members of various lengths may be used in connection with boththe mechanisms A and B, to practice the invention, and for illustrative purposes I have shown a chain similar to that disclosed in my 'ment and bearing .scribed later.

26 from its cooperating cam rior Patent No.- 1,838,640, issued Dec. 29, 1931, which essentially comprises relatively spaced links 33, directly connected by removably secured and axially abutted movement-limiting stop members or pins 34, which are of various accurately cut lengths.

Chains 13 and 13 are identical, each having the same reference numeral applied to like parts with those of chain 13* distinguished by exponnent a, and the following description of chain 13 will sufiice for both.

Chain 13 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7 .passes over idle or guide rollers 35 and. is adjustably held taut by a weighted roller 36 suspended in its lower loop, and is progressively moved across the path of travel of the screws 11 by the mechanism already described. also travels between guide plates 37 and 38 (see 37 a and 38a) secured to a movable abutblock 39 which is secured to a shaft 40 and provided with a guide groove 41 (see 41, Fig. 7) in which the rear end of the pins 34 travel and are properly aligned, as shown. The block 39 further provides a bearing for and carries the shaft 15, so that the upper chain loop carrying the pins 34 during cooperation with the rods 10. together with the chain-pawling parts, may be swung or tilted by turning the shaft 40 through an are sufficient to disengage the active s'top pin 34 from its cooperating screw 11 and move it into the path of travel of the second coop Thistilting action of the In order to disconnect said chain 13 from its movement-limiting operation, the rear end of its lever 23 is raised to separate the roller 21 and is placed on a seat or notch 42, (see Fig. 8) provided therefor on the upper end of a swingable arm 43, pivoted at 44 on the machine frame member 32, and yieldably held in position by a spring 45.

Simultaneous operation efl'ected automatically by an axially shiftable rod 46 slidable in bearings 47 and provided with collars 48 and 48a which contact with the edges of the arms 43 and 43a respectively, and are held against the latter by the action of a tension spring 49 connected with the rod 46 and the frame member 32 as shown. Shifting of this rod 46 to the right in Fig. 1, moves the said arms and simultaneously unseats the levers 23 and 23a, so that the rollers 26 and 26a engage the respective cams 21 and 21a. Such shifting of the rod 46 is accomplished by a lever 50 pivoted at 51 on a hearing 52, whose forward end is moved by a bellof both chains is Said chain The mechanism for turning the crank lever 53 controlled by one or'more buttons 54 on the usual master, or machine controlling pattern chain 55.

Each time that the rear end of levers 23 and 23a are raisedby the cams 21 and 2112, the arms 43 and 43a will automatically return to their vertical or normal position under the influence of their respective springs, and again seat and retain thelevers in inactive position. A button 54 is provided on the chain 55 for each desired actuation of the pattern chain shifting mechanism, so that a respective rod 10 can. be made to consecutively coact with the same pin 34 on the chain 13 as long as it is desired to keep the throw of the rod uniform. In other words, the pattern chain 13 is not progressed as long as the throw of arespective thread carrier rod is to remain uniform, and but one pin 34 is required for this purpose.

To effect the aforementioned delayed additional movement of the yarn carrier rod 10,

to produce open split-seam interlooping of the threads, the movement-limiting stop members 34 of the chain 13, must be raised clear of the screws 11, after contacting therewith, so as to also stop the screws 12. To accomplish this, the upper chain loop is mounted on the swingable block 39 as already described, and the latter is tilted or turned by partially rotating the shaft 40 on which it is Xed.

This partial turning of the separate shafts 40 and 40a, and proper tilting of the respective blocks 39 and 39a is attained by separate but similar mechanisms whose actions are properly timed by cams. The shaft 40 has an arm 56 connected thereto, which in turn is connected by an adjustable link 57 to a lever 58 pivoted on the shaft 25 and provided with an anti-friction roller 59 shiftably mounted thereon to cooperate with cams 60 and 61 fixed to. and rotated by cam shaft 22, as clearly shown.

T'wo spring retained arms 62 and 63 are pivotally mounted on the outer end of the lever 58, whose upper ends are hook-shaped and adapted to engage with a machine shaft 64 to hold the lever in various active, as well as in inactive position. The arm 63 is also provided with an adjustment screw 75, and when this arm is hooked over the shaft 64 the upper chain loop of chain 13 is re tained in the raised position shown in Fig. 6, and no contact is established between the roller 59 and cam members 60 and 61, con sequently the movement-limiting members 34 of the chain 13 will only coact with the screws 12 on the rods 10. It will be readily apparent that if the chain loop is retained in this position, the throw of a rod 10, is slightly increased by the difference of ad- Vance between the screws 11 and 12 and that consecutive contacting of the screws 12 with the movement-limiting members 34 will repass without contacting.

'sult in the uniform overlapping of the threads, which effects the so called closed split-seam interlooping of the same, as well known in the art.

In order to provide for adjustability of the point of coactive contact between the roller 59 and cams 60 and 61, an adjustment screw 660, having a long hexagonally shaped shank, is threaded into a frame member directly beneath the end of levers 58 (see Fig. 5) for the purpose of adjustably limiting the downward movement of the latter.

When neither of the arms 62 or 63 are hooked over the shaft 64 the roller 59 will alternately cooperate with the cams 60 and 61 to consecutively shift and retain the upper loop of the chain in the positions shown in tion before a respective rod 10 is moved towards the same, and is brought about by a forked roller shift-lever 65 pivoted at 66 on the lever 58, whose rear end is connected with, and actuated by a shift-rod 67 movable in suitable bearings one of, which is indicated at 68, and held in contact with the edge of the well known coulier lever 69 of the machine, by a spring 71. The said coulier lever reciprocates the rod 67, in unison with the thread carrier rods 10 and in timed relation with the operation of the machine. The foregoing description applies equally to similar chain 13?.

It will be noted that the cam members 60 and 61 of the mechanisms A and B are so timed and positioned to not only efl'ect alterv hook of its arm 62 or 62a is engaged with the shaft 64. This raises the chain-loop high enough to allow the screws 11 and 12, and consequently the rod 10, to move under the pins 31 or 31a of their chains 13 or 13a and By referring to the diagrams of Fig. 9, which shows the various positions of a single thread carrier rod 10 and the cooperating movement-limiting members 34 and 34a during one reciprocation or cycle of operation of the rod, when producing open split-seam interlooping of its threads, the diagram I shows the screw 11a abutting the member of the chain loop-raising mechanisms, the

34a of the chain operating mechanism A. After such contact the members 34a and 34 are simultaneously raised to the position illustrated by diagram II, thereby allowing the rod 10 to advance until screw 12a strikes against the member 34a. Just before the rod 10 moves to the right, the chain loop of mech anism B only is lowered and a new pin 34?) simultaneously advanced into position, as shown by diagram III. o Diagram IV shows the next movement of the rod 10, which is to the right and which continues until its screw 11, located near its right end, strikes against the member 34?) of mechanism B. The chain loop of mechanism A is lowered during this movement, and the next pin 340 simultaneously advanced. The

next step is illustrated by diagram V and as indicated consists in raising the member 34:?) of mechanism B so that the rod 10 can advance until screw 12 strikes against the same. Diagram VI shows the final action,

the lowering of the loop of mechanism A and simultaneous advancement of a new pin 34e. After this the rod 10 again moves to the left and the cycle is 'repeated.

As already pointed previously, if the throw of the rod 10 is to remain uniform, the chains will not be advanced during the lowering of the loops. p

It will be readily understood that instead of one thread carrier rod 10, two may be controlled in like manner by moving first onethen the other, between one of the chains an the common shiftable end stops (not shown) of the machine. By utilizing both chains to control one thread carrier rod, as shown, or two rods, and controlling each by a chain and the common stops at one end of the machine, practically any desirable ornamental reenforcing, plating, or stripin effect may be produced in a flat knitted we% and at any particular point with either open or closed split-seam juncture lines. I

Of course, the movement-control mechanism shown and described, may be modified and changed in various ways, and changes may be desirable and required in order to adapt it to similar purposes in different machines, it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but that such changes and alteration may be made as fairly come within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod, of movement-limiting mechanism therefor including a pattern chain having members adapted to provide vagrying control contacts with said rod, means for advancing the chain to progressively establish such contacts and means for disengaging the members after contacting with the rod to permit of further movement of the rod in the same direction.

2. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod, of movement-limiting mechanism therefor including two pattern chains having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with said rod, means for alternately advancing the chains to progressively establish such contacts, and means for disengaging the members after contacting with the rod to permit of further movement of the rod in the same direction.

3. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod, of movement-limiting mechanism therefor including two pattern chains having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with said rod, means for intermittently and alternately advanclng the chains to establish such contacts, and

means operative between the chain progresbination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod, of movement-limiting mechanism therefor including a pattern chain having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with said rod, means for advancing the chain to progressively establish such contacts, and means for laterally shifting the chain-part carrying the respective contacting members to disengage thelatter and permit of delayed additional movement of the rod.

5. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod, of movement-limiting mechanism therefor including two pattern chains having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with said rod, means for alternately advancing the chains to progressively establish such contacts, and means for laterally shifting the chain-parts carrying the respective contacting members to disengage the latter and permit of delayed additional movement of the rod.

6. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod, and machine operating means; movement-limiting mechanism for the rod including a pattern chain having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with the rod, means for advancing the chain to progressively establish such contacts, means for laterally shifting the chainpart carrying the respective contacting members to disengage the latter and permit of delayed additional movement'of the rod, and

bination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod provided with staggered abutments, of movement-limiting mechanism therefor including a pattern chain having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with said abutments, and means for moving the members to establish consecutive contact with the staggered abutments, whereby the continuous movement of said rod in one direction is arrested by a full stop prior toits final stop in the same direction of movement.

8. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocatively operated thread carrier rod provided with staggered abutments, of movement-limitin mechanism therefor including two pattern 0 ains having members adapted to provide varying control contacts with said abutments, and means for alternately moving the chains to establish consecutive contact of the members and abut- Y ments, whereby the continuous movement of the rod in each direction of its reciprocation is arrested by a full stop prior to its final stop at the end of such direction of reciprocation.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

EMIL RICHTER. 

